Following a successful Routes Asia event in Kunming, which saw almost 800 delegates in attendance, Yunnan Airport Group have officially handed over to Manila, Philippines the host destination for Routes Asia 2016. The event will take place from 6-8 March 2016 in Manila hosted by the Philippine Department of Tourism and co-hosted by the Philippine Department of Transportation & Communications.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony Verna C. Buensuceso, Officer in Charge of Market Development Group, Philippine Department of Tourism said, “We will be proud to see all of you at Routes Asia 2016 in Manila and take part in our vision to become a premiere multi-gateway destination in Asia, providing world-class arrival and departure experience in its major and secondary international airports.”
The event promises to help the host deliver on its objectives to turn the Philippines into one of the top gateways in the region in the near future and hosting Routes Asia will also provide the Philippines with the opportunity to improve international air connectivity and access for business and inbound tourism as well as expand the frontiers of knowledge on aviation development, an essential driver and prerequisite of competitiveness.
“We’re thrilled that Routes Asia will be taking place in Manila in 2016. This event is sure to be full of opportunities for our entire community and will allow the Philippines to increase new air services and visitor numbers. With superb connections to the whole of Asia, one of the fastest growing economies of Southeast Asia and both a modern and rapidly developing infrastructure, the Philippines is the ideal destination to hold Routes Asia in 2016,” commented Gerard Brown, Head of Future Hosting, Routes & Airport Cities, UBM EMEA.
The Philippines is currently modernising and expanding its premier gateway and secondary airports to sustain its international market growth and improve the arrival and departure experience. Increased investment in these airports will drive international tourists and passengers to visit the Philippines. The upgrading of Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 1 is ongoing and will be completed in time for the hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2015 whilst the construction of an elevated highway linking Terminals 1, 2, and 3 to the Skyway and Manila Bay is expected to be completed by 2016. There is also planned expansion at the passenger terminal building of Mactan-Cebu International Airport which will be expanded to accommodate eight million passengers per year.
